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OP I'm collecting a list of paradoxical words, that is, words that in some sense contain their own contradiction. The word "exoteric" (AWAD 10/22) is a good example: It is essentially an antonym of "esoteric" and means "not limited to an inner circle of select people, suitable for the general public." However, I suspect that only a small inner circle of select people ( i.e., AWAD enthusiasts and similar word lovers) know what exoteric means. The word "exoteric" is therefore esoteric.
Please post any other words of this type that you may know, including a brief explanation of why they are paradoxical. I will post the complete list of submitted words to the AWAD forum.
If you know of a list of paradoxical terms in English that someone else already has compiled, please let me know where to find it.
Thanks!
David
David Schwartz
Department of Neurobiology
Duke University Medical Center
David Schwartz
Department of Neurobiology
Duke University Medical Center
Entire Thread Subject Posted By Posted seeking paradoxical words dschwartz65 01/04/03 05:25 PM cabbage [wink] rav 01/04/03 06:37 PM Re: seeking paradoxical words wwh 01/04/03 06:40 PM Re: seeking paradoxical words wwh 01/04/03 07:43 PM Re: seeking paradoxical words tsuwm 01/04/03 08:24 PM strange loops are everywhere wofahulicodoc 01/05/03 02:54 AM Re: strange loops are everywhere Faldage 01/05/03 01:21 PM This satement is false. wofahulicodoc 01/05/03 09:24 PM Re: seeking paradoxical words dschwartz65 01/06/03 01:50 AM Re: seeking paradoxical words milum 01/06/03 02:50 AM Re: seeking paradoxical words tsuwm 01/06/03 04:25 AM Re: seeking paradoxical words Jackie 01/12/03 02:25 AM
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